Crown Prosecution Service
About the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
The CPS is the Government Department responsible for prosecuting crimnal cases investigated by the police in England and Wales. As the principal prosecuting authority in England and Wales, we are responsible for:
- advising the police on cases for possible prosecution
- reviewing cases submitted by the police
- determining any charges in all but minor cases
- preparing cases for court
- presenting cases at court
CPS Vision
The CPS is working to become a world-class, independent prosecuting authority that delivers a valued public service by;
- Strengthening the prosecution process to bring offenders to justice: providing an independent prosecution service, working with the police from the outset of a case to its disposal; advising the police before charge; building and testing the strongest possible prosecution case and presenting that case fairly in the courts on behalf of the public.
- Championing justice and the rights of victims: assessing the needs of victims and witnesses and their likely evidence from the outset and throughout the life of the case; making sure their experience of the CPS and the CJS encourages them and others to come forward in future to play their part in bringing offenders to justice.
- Inspiring the confidence of the communities we serve: being visible, open and accountable for our decisions; being responsive to the needs of the community and providing a valuable public service; being seen as the decision-makers who decide which cases should be brought to court and bringing them to justice.
- Driving change and delivery in the Criminal Justice System: as a self-confident leader; influential in delivering local criminal justice and in shaping the CJS of the future.
- Being renowned for fairness, excellent career opportunities and the commitment and skills of all our people: where everyone is treated on merit; where people of ability can rise to the top and where all our people are renowned for their commitment, skills and dedication to justice.
- Having a strong capability to deliver: by transforming HQ support to frontline delivery; securing value for money and efficiencies to reinvest in frontline prosecution services; improving the management of prosecution costs; harnessing IT to support CPS business; and delivering through effective programme and project management.
Meet the Chief Crown Prosecutor
Kate Carty (pictured right) was born in Nottingham and grew up there. She spent four years in Newcastle on Tyne at university before returning to the city to complete her professional exams. Kate was admitted as a solicitor in October 1985, when she went on to become an Assistant Prosecuting Solicitor with the Derbyshire Prosecuting Solicitor's Office and then a Crown Prosecutor in Nottinghamshire upon the formation of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in 1986.
In 1992 Kate took a sabbatical from the CPS and spend a year travelling around the world. She visited Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and USA. She spent some time in the Attorney Gereral's offices in Melbourne and Hong Kong and visited the DA's departments and the criminal courts in Los Angeles and Kansas.
Between 1990 and 1995 Kate was promoted to Principal Crown Prosecutor on Nottinghamshire City Branch and then in 1995 was appointed as a Prosecution Team Leader of Nottingham City branch and then of the City 1 Team on the CJU in April 2000. Kate was appinted Head of CJU in April 2001 and Chief Crown Prosecutor on 12th May 2003. In March 2005, with the DPP, she visited the Brooklyn DA's office, NYPD and the Red Hook Community Court which she found fascinating and sparked her interest in Community Justice.
Kate is a national and local trainer and has also participated in working groups on the implemetation of the Glidewell Review. She is also on the Criminal Committee of the local Law Society and is the Chair of the Leicestershire and Rutland Criminal Justice Board. Kate is passionate about Leicestershire and Rutland and about the CPS. She is committed to improving the criminal justice system and ensuring we put victims and witnesses at the heart of everything we do. She wants to raise the profile of the CPS, so that our communities are far more aware of the role of our public prosecution service and to connecting the criminal justice system to our communities.